Oprah Winfrey says no one should use the N-word casually

CHICAGO, July 31 (UPI) -- U.S. media mogul and actress Oprah Winfrey says no one should use the N-word in casual conversation.

"You cannot be my friend and use that word around me," Winfrey, 59, told Parade magazine. "It shows my age, but I feel strongly about it."

She said the use of the slur reminds her of "people who heard that as their last word as they were hanging from a tree."

Winfrey said many young people today "don't know diddly-squat" about the civil rights movement.

"Do we live in a land where Martin Luther King's dream has been ultimately fulfilled? No. Has part of the dream been fulfilled?" she asked, nodding. "Are more people judged by the content of their character than by the color of their skin? Yes. Is everybody judged by the content of their character? Absolutely not."

Winfrey will soon be seen opposite Forest Whitaker in "Lee Daniels' The Butler," a historical drama about a servant who worked at the White House from 1952 to 1986.

United Press International is a leading provider of news, photos and information to millions of readers around the globe via UPI.com and its licensing services.

With a history of reliable reporting dating back to 1907, today's UPI is a credible source for the most important stories of the day, continually updated - a one-stop site for U.S. and world news, as well as entertainment, trends, science, health and stunning photography. UPI also provides insightful reports on key topics of geopolitical importance, including energy and security.

A Spanish version of the site reaches millions of readers in Latin America and beyond.

UPI was founded in 1907 by E.W. Scripps as the United Press (UP). It became known as UPI after a merger with the International News Service in 1958, which was founded in 1909 by William Randolph Hearst. Today, UPI is owned by News World Communications.